BOSTON: GUARDS: This offense now belongs to RAJON RONDO, and that should be especially true during the regular season . . . Even if he comes off the bench, JASON TERRY figures to see the bulk of the minutes at shooting guard. He provides some much-needed outside shooting after Ray Allen left and should challenge Paul Pierce for the team lead in shot attempts . . . Adding COURTNEY LEE was more of a move for the future. He's a fine young second-unit player for now and should be an heir apparent on one of the wings . . . AVERY BRADLEY could be out until December after shoulder surgery. As Boston's best perimeter defensive player, he could reclaim his starting job in the season's second half . . . The addition of LEANDRO BARBOSA gives Boston another veteran who can create his own offense in the second unit, something that was sorely missing in last year's playoff run. FORWARDS: PAUL PIERCE quietly had a great regular season last year. Though with some improved depth behind him, Rivers might have his 35-year-old All-Star wing rest more often . . . BRANDON BASS gives them another scoring option, even if he does struggle on the defensive end. He'll get full-time minutes only in certain matchups as long as the frontcourt is healthy . . . JEFF GREEN's heart condition is no longer a concern, but the tweener's role in Boston after a year off is cause for worry . . . There are already question marks surrounding rookie JARED SULLINGER's back. He's very similar to Bass: He can score out to mid-range but doesn't play much defense. Expect him to be strictly a second-unit player in his first NBA season . . . CHRIS WILCOX will provide fouls off the bench when healthy. CENTERS: The Celtics are prepared to go with KEVIN GARNETT in the middle, which was the case when they were at their best last season. His role on offense is still knocking down mid-range jumpers, and he's still an elite defensive player . . . Professional flopper JASON COLLINS will fill in nicely for the departed Greg Stiemsma . . . FAB MELO is years away from being ready to contribute (if he actually is ever ready to contribute) and DARKO MILICIC was also added via free agency for more frontcourt depth.

MINNESOTA: GUARDS: RICKY RUBIO could be back by late December, but even he's not confident his knee will be 100 percent. His minutes might have to be scaled back . . . LUKE RIDNOUR will handle the offense with Rubio hampered. The vet is a steady hand in coach Rick Adelman's Euro-style offense . . . They're counting on BRANDON ROY to reclaim his old form after a radical knee procedure. He may never be 100 percent, but he should at least give them sixth-man minutes . . . CHASE BUDINGER is a three-point marksman who moves well off the ball, a perfect fit in Adelman's system . . . J.J. BAREA will take some of the point guard burden as well. He's a top sixth man . . . ALEXEY SHVED can help as a combo guard, though he might have trouble breaking into this rotation . . . MALCOLM LEE is a defensive stopper who won't be asked to shoot very often. FORWARDS: Despite being limited athletically, KEVIN LOVE is an elite rebounder and shooter for a big. He'll continue to be the focal point of this offense once he returns from a broken hand in early December . . . ANDREI KIRILENKO returns to the States after a dominating Euroleague stint. He's a big upgrade at the three and should be comfortable in Adelman's system . . . DERRICK WILLIAMS will continue his attempted transition to the three. As last year proved, he's a long, long ways away. He might have to play himself into a rotation spot . . . DANTE CUNNINGHAM is a nice, efficient big to bring off the bench . . . Since they need shooting on the wings, rookie ROBBIE HUMMEL has a chance to crack the rotation. CENTERS: NIKOLA PEKOVIC is a beast, the best offensive rebounder in the NBA. His total rebounding numbers get hurt playing alongside Kevin Love, but Pekovic will continue to bully his way to put-backs . . . GREG STIEMSMA is going to come in and do some pushing and shoving (and occasional shot-blocking) for 12-to-15 MPG.

With the Boston Celtics struggling and Kevin Garnett still sidelined, the team's opportunity to improve its playoff seeding is fading.

But on Monday night in Minnesota, they'll try to take advantage of a Timberwolves team they've won 11 straight against. Ten of those victories have come since Garnett was traded to Boston in the summer of 2007.

The Celtics (38-35) have lost six of eight overall and six of seven on the road following a 108-89 defeat against the Knicks on Sunday. They remain in seventh in the East, 2 1/2 games back of Atlanta and 2 1/2 in front of Milwaukee.

Sunday was their fifth straight game without Garnett, who has been sidelined with inflammation in his left ankle. Coach Doc Rivers said Friday that the team was intending to stick to its initial two-week timetable for Garnett's return, which would likely see him miss two more games this week against Detroit and Cleveland in addition to Monday's contest.

The absence of Garnett - Boston's leading rebounder with 7.8 per game - has had an effect on the boards, with the Celtics giving up an average rebounding margin of minus-4.8 over the last five. Garnett is also the club's second-leading scorer averaging 14.9 points.

Boston could also be without leading scorer Paul Pierce (18.7 ppg) on Monday after he turned his ankle during Sunday's loss.

"I feel like when we're healthy we can compete with anybody," said Jeff Green, who scored 27 against the Knicks and is averaging 20.2 points on 52.5 percent shooting over his last 10 contests. "We have a chance on it, whoever we match up against."

Despite being long removed from the playoff hunt, the Timberwolves (26-46) have been more competitive recently, splitting their last six games, including an impressive victory over Oklahoma City on Friday.

It seemed they were on track for another surprising win Saturday against Memphis, but they allowed a 16-2 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter on the way to a 99-86 defeat.

"I just think at one point we looked like we were trying to win the game in one possession," coach Rick Adelman said. "Trying to making hero plays and super plays. Just try to make solid plays."

Nikola Pekovic is listed as questionable after sitting out against the Grizzlies because of the sprained left ankle he suffered Friday, the latest in a litany of injuries for Minnesota this year.

The Timberwolves have seen a positive with Ricky Rubio continuing to look more like he did before tearing his ACL last March. He's averaging 13.8 points and 8.6 assists over his last 28 games, compared to 5.5 points and 5.4 assists in his first 19 games back from the injury.

Boston's offense has slowed to a crawl away from home, averaging 88.7 points over its last seven road games. The Celtics have also struggled to defend the 3-point line of late, allowing their last three opponents to go 29 of 64 from beyond the arc (45.3 percent), though the Timberwolves rank last in 3-point percentage (30.0).

The Celtics claimed a 104-94 home victory in the season's first meeting Dec. 5. Pierce and Garnett each scored 18 points as Boston shot 52.6 percent from the floor, though Rubio was still sidelined for Minnesota.